Mexican Braised Beans Soft Egg (Printable)

Tender Mexican-spiced braised beans topped with creamy soft-boiled eggs and fresh garnishes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Beans and Aromatics

01 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
04 - 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and diced
05 - 1 red bell pepper, diced

→ Braising Base

06 - 2 cans (15 oz each) black beans, drained and rinsed
07 - 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
08 - 1 cup vegetable broth
09 - 2 teaspoons ground cumin
10 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
11 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
12 - 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
13 - 1 bay leaf
14 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

→ Eggs

15 - 4 large eggs

→ Garnishes

16 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
17 - 1 avocado, sliced
18 - 1/4 cup crumbled queso fresco or feta
19 - Lime wedges

# How-To Steps:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, jalapeño, and red bell pepper. Sauté for 5-6 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, and chili powder. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add black beans, diced tomatoes, vegetable broth, and bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer.
04 - Reduce heat to low, cover, and braise for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until flavors meld and the mixture is thickened. Remove and discard bay leaf.
05 - While beans are braising, bring a saucepan of water to a gentle boil. Carefully add eggs and simmer for 6 minutes for soft-boiled. Transfer to an ice bath to stop cooking, then gently peel.
06 - Spoon braised beans into bowls. Top each with a peeled soft-boiled egg, avocado slices, queso fresco, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime. Serve immediately, optionally with warm corn tortillas.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The way the creamy egg yolk creates its own rich sauce right in your bowl
  • Its the kind of dish that tastes like it simmered all day but comes together in under an hour
  • Perfect for any time of day, breakfast, lunch, or dinner
02 -
  • Resist the urge to rush the spice blooming step, that minute makes all the difference in depth
  • The beans continue thickening as they rest slightly off heat, so dont overreduce
  • Room temperature eggs are less likely to crack when you lower them into the water
03 -
  • Making a big batch? The beans actually taste better the next day as flavors continue to develop
  • If the braise gets too thick, add a splash more broth or water rather than thinning with lime